Super Eagles news: Nigeria trail Guinea-Bissau by 3 before Tanzania

The Super Eagles sit second in AFCON 2027 qualifying Group L with three points from two games, three behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, and the two matches against Tanzania in November now decide how alive their qualification hopes stay.

Nigeria beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo on 25 September, then lost 3-0 at Guinea-Bissau four days later. Guinea-Bissau lead with six points and a goal difference of +5, Nigeria have three and -2, while Madagascar and Tanzania have one point each.

The table at a glance

• Guinea-Bissau: played 2, won 2, goal difference +5, 6 points
• Nigeria: played 2, won 1, lost 1, goal difference -2, 3 points
• Madagascar: played 2, drawn 1, lost 1, goal difference -1, 1 point
• Tanzania: played 2, drawn 1, lost 1, goal difference -2, 1 point

Tanzania are co-hosts of the 2027 finals and already have a place, so only the best-placed of the other three teams in the group goes through. That makes the group a three-way race for one spot, with Guinea-Bissau in front.

The Nigeria vs Tanzania game is due in Uyo and the return in Dar es Salaam, both in mid-November. Sources differ on the exact dates, with one fixture list giving 11 and 15 November and another 13 and 17 November.

Analysis: Six points is the target, and the squad has to deliver it

Tanzania cannot take the qualifying place, but both games against them are still points Nigeria must collect. Six would take Nigeria to nine and force Guinea-Bissau to answer, while anything less would leave the Super Eagles relying on others.

Squad news will shape that. Legit.ng reported in mid-October that Eric Chelle plans three changes, with Victor Osimhen returning from a groin injury and Kelechi Iheanacho and Banik Ostrava defender Abdullahi Bewene also in his thinking, though no official list has been published. Osimhen scored twice for Galatasaray in the Istanbul derby this week, which suggests he is fit. Soccernet profiled the defender in Meet the right-back reported in Chelle's squad.

The other variable is the coach's schedule. Chelle also manages the Olympic Eagles, who have a fixture on similar dates, and Soccernet explained the clash in Why Chelle's double duty is a Nigeria problem.

A full six points from Tanzania would change the shape of the group before the year is out.